OK, older ladies, I need to hear from you.... - YouLookFab Forum

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OK, older ladies, I need to hear from you....

always trying

Veteran

What current styles and trends do you think are not for you because of age,, not just because they are not your style anyhow?

For me I feel moto jackets (they just look young to me), and bomber jackets (except maybe floral silk ones) , shorts shorter than mid thigh, really high heels, and anything showing very much cleavage, moto boots, cropped tops short enough to show skin, black fishnet hose (although this is relevant- if your outfit looks classy rather than like a hooker it would be a good look..

I have a floral silk bomber that I just bought last year and I wear it a lot, but tried on a linen like one with some kind of shiny fabric on the sleeves and it looked like something from the junior department.

Otherwise I wear what I like, skinnies BF, heels to 3 inches, really try to avoid anything that even has a hint of frumpy on me (this rules out wearing skirts, dresses mid calf length).

Dressing

19 replies

Latest reply was from Nebraskim

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I'm over 50 and still love a lot of moto jackets. I would also consider a bomber jacket and wear my shorts maybe shorter than you've suggested. I've never really liked mini skirts, fishnet hose or a lot of cleavage or bodycon things. But I do routinely choose v-necks, sometimes deep v-necks. Maybe I just don't have cleavage to be concerned about. I don't like crop tops (not even layered) so it's a miss there too. Oh, I know, distressed tops or toppers. I feel like distressing up top (not jeans because I can do distressed jeans to a point) but like a faded, distressed jean jacket or faded chambray shirt feels aging on me whereas I can wear a dark denim jacket with confidence. I think some of the military inspired utility jackets also feel a bit "young" to me now for simliar reasons. And lighter heathered gray t-shirts are not my favorite now that I'm a bit older, whereas I used to wear them often (now I prefer a darker charcoal gray).

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Several of the items in your list of "no goes" would be true for me regardless of age; in other words, it's my style ruling them out, not my age. I never really wore: shorts a lot shorter than mid-thigh; really high heels; low cut tops (I have no cleavage to reveal). And I have no yen to wear them now.

I will wear moto boots (just bought a pair of refined ones); cropped tops (but not to show skin except in a rare situation); black fishnet hose with a classy outfit. I don't own a moto jacket now, or a bomber, but I would potentially wear either.

Really, I can't think of a single item I wouldn't wear strictly due to age. Most of the items I wouldn't choose to wear simply aren't my style to begin with.

Eliza

Veteran

Pushing 60 and for whatever reasons (not all exclusively age related), I choose not to wear short shorts as well as short skirts and dresses, don't want to show cleavage and never have, never could walk in spike heels and now need very low shoes. I guess any age related limitations that I might perceive are minimized to some degree by lifestyle/professional circumstances that go back decades.

I haven't been drawn to a lot of the features in clothing that is intended for teens, even as a young adult. I have several short moto style jackets in leather and don't wear them tight. Just bought a black silk EF bomber that I love. It dresses up well and is very simple in its style detailing. I would really feel a gap without short jackets that are not blazers in my wardrobe. As to moto boots, just bought the Aquatalia Sweeties at NAS. I honestly would have preferred a streamlined, non-embellished mid-calf boot, but these are comfortable and practical for my climate. Foot issues ensure that my purchases are functional first, so style preferences must take a back seat to some degree.

Overall, to the degree that age is a driving force in my decisions, it is integrated into my current preferences and I am not finding myself thinking that I covet a particular item, but wouldn't wear it because of my age. I hadn't realized this until your thought provoking post, always trying.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I like your last paragraph, Eliza. A very balanced viewpoint.

And high five, Sweetie twin!

MsMaven

Veteran

For me, age isn't so much an issue, and in fact, when I turned 70 I started to feel liberated and decided it was up to me. Age constraints are my feet and the weight gain around my middle. I was never one for very short skirts--I'm not proportioned right for them. And I've never liked showing cleavage or midriff, so I'm not giving up certain styles for age reasons.

I did find YLF by Googling fashion for women over 50 or something like that. I was going through a temporary lack of confidence when it became so hard to find clothes appropriate for grownups. I love looking at all the different sizes, shapes and ages of the women who post here.

I do have issues about my arms though. Last night watching the Emmy show I had my eyes glued on Jessica Lang's arms. (I've always had issues about my very long skinny arms.) My upper arms are toned by weight training, but the muscles are skinny and stringy, even though they are hard. I wear sleeveless stuff anyway, but I wish there were more choices with sleeves on dresses.

I have a bomber and an EF moto--I love all kinds of jackets except for the cropped ones. I like to follow fashion. I've never been big on fluffy ruffly clothes, or overly masculine boots and shoes or clothes.

rachylou

Veteran

Skater skirts... although I ... skate... close to them upon occasion. But I do feel they're one step away from ruffled underpants, even for teenagers.

Anonymous

If I try it on and it looks good without me worrying about my body I wear it. My legs are really toned, but I have spider veins which makes me stay away from anything shorter than knee length. I am not really a "dress person", preferring slacks and jeans.

I certainly would not wear cropped tops or anything just a teenager would wear, but I do like to incorporate some modern pieces in my mostly classic/sporty style.

If anything, I have learned the proper way to dress my body from this site which makes pulling stuff out of my closet easy. I know which fabrics work and which ones don't and try to build pieces into my wardrobe that are interchangeable.

As for shoes, comfort trumps heels. I do like some heel and will wear anything from a 1-inch to 2-inch max (luckily I am tall). I like kitten heels and am really liking booties for this coming fall. I also like sandals, because, if I can brag, I have really pretty feet (58th birthday coming soon).

DonnaF

Veteran

I am over 60. I skip skater skirts, but I'm not sure that I would have worn them at any age. I also skip shortish fit'n'flare dresses and other items that look a bit twee, but I would wear a longer fit'n'flare. I am still seeking a flattering moto jacket. I've never worn stilettos or other really high heels, but I would wear higher heels than I do now if my feet allowed it. At some point, I want to get moto boots, but I probably have to be very careful that they don't overpower my short stature.

I've never in my life shown much skin, so of course I am not about to start. I skip a lot of soft drapey styles because they have ALWAYS made me look frumpy and dumpy. I seem to be an outlier in this regard, but I figure it is how and where I carry and have always carried my weight and jiggle.

Lyn D.

Veteran

I prefer to dress modestly, and don't really like short skirts or cleavage on any age.
I also don't like age-appropriate rules, and just wear what is comfortable and makes me smile

Quietgirl

Veteran

Late fifties here. Age has liberated me as I no longer care much about what other people might think of me...because they don't (think of me)! I wear what looks good on me. I have never worn bikinis. I like to dress modestly. Other than that, I am eager to try new styles and see what I can adapt for the body I have today. The worst thing for me would be the dreaded "M" word ........MATRONLY!!

Tessitura

Great topic, Always Trying. I'm not over 50, but my style has changed quite a bit as I've transitioned into being married and part of the corporate culture. I've come to speculate that "dressing your age" isn't so much about wearing things that are "age appropriate"... it's more about the fact that as we age, we mature. We realize that we wore certain things because we were insecure, because we had a fantasy lifestyle, because we wanted a certain kind of attention... or is it just me? I used to wear all kinds of things that I would never wear now, and in a way, I consider them "too young" for me. "Too young" means that I'd consider myself a bit immature if I wore those things again, or I think I'd come across as immature.

For example, I got rid of most of my miniskirts once I realized that I just don't feel very comfortable in them. At one time, the excitement and novelty of showing that much leg overpowered the self-consciousness and discomfort that came with it. Over time, I came to value my own comfort more. Black fishnets are the same way... I used to wear them a lot, but I came to realize that I cared a great deal about being able to get along with everyone, and the fishnets seemed to be getting in the way. There was a time when I was idealistic enough to think that it didn't matter how I dressed, and that it wouldn't affect how I was treated. That time has passed... I now value my sense of security more than proving I have the right to come across however I wish. To my mind, most of the things on your list of don'ts are widely
associated with communicating sexual availability... and I think that
many of us choose to avoid sending that message as we mature. There are a lot of things I've purged from my closet because I realized that my values had changed, or had become clearer to me. It's not that I won't wear a halter top, but I probably won't wear the one that's covered in sequins. To me, "dressing too young" feels very similar to "dressing to stand out a great deal"... as I've grown older, I've grown more comfortable in my own skin, and I don't feel that I need or want certain kinds of attention any more.

I think that as long as you have a clear sense of who you are, and you know why you like the things that you do, there's no need to ban any given item from your closet... regardless of age. It's just important, I think, to be honest with ourselves about how we come across... not only to ourselves, but to those who interact with us. And for some people, perceiving social friction or censure might not feel as difficult as it has been for me... in which case I'm not sure that anything is off limits.

Vildy

Veteran

I always think it's all to do with the setting. I'm opining from the vantage point of someone who's 66. I was waiting for my husband to get out of his physical therapy apptmt (operation to reattach hamstring) and people watching. This is a major city where most people don't pay much attention to the old concept of dressing to go into town. So a lot of people are in what my friend used to call yard clothes. The women who are dressier, regardless of age, tend to be more sleek and no nonsense, probably on their lunch hour.

I saw two older women, both probably in their 50's or above, each dressed very differently. One was a slender, well-groomed woman who wore a dark summer outfit that featured one of those floaty, swaying skirts of two layers with the top one being chiffon. She looked very nice. But at odds with the way everyone else looked. Way too romantic and alluring for hot pavements in the middle of the day. It looked too young. Only a few steps away from festival dressing. Would have been very attractive, though, at a summer drinks party. Less floor space for all that swaying of the skirt, too.

The other was a much taller, larger woman striding past carrying a bag of groceries. She wore very short rolled denim shorts and she had fabulous legs without a spider vein in sight. She wasn't conveying a message of trying to be pretty, the way the first woman was, but she was vibrant and attractive for that.
We generally leave short shorts in the city to the young but this older woman had created her own setting of living nearby and running errands on a hot, sweaty day.

I always think it's what you're seen to be doing in your clothing that influences whether or not its age-appropriate. If a woman of extreme age is washing her car in her driveway in a bikini, it works for me.

crutcher

Veteran

I truly don't feel clothes have an age expiration date on the tag...I know what works for me and what I love...I will never ask if something is "too young" for me...if I do, then I am not doing my own job of policing what I wear...
The fear in this is that women of a certain age will look at too young and go scurrying to a store for women of a certain age...enough said...
I never want anyone to feel that they have to dress matronly because of an abundance of birthdays...smile...

JayS

Veteran

Interesting topic. I wear shorter dresses or tunics with thick tights. (We're talking 2-3 inches above the knee here.) It's a little sleeker than pointe pants, which I like. I wouldn't do that bare legged. I do wear deep vnecks, although not to the point of showing cleavage. (short neck) I like moto jackets and am looking for a cream bomber jacket. I love the sporty lux look. I don't show midriff skin and for that I know the people around me are thankful. I dress for myself. I wear trendy clothes, but try to do it in a classy way. Btw, I'm 57. And I love heels!

Suzanne (ambergreen)

Veteran

I don't filter things due to age alone. This is probably partly because of my size and build, which happen to work in lots of things aimed at the young. I was between appointments today and ducked into a thrift store, nabbing a couple of items for what worked out to $6 each (including a BCBG Max Azria dress); one was a never-worn Forever 21 bodycon dress that, well, looked fab. (Yes, technically against Ascetic August, but not by much...!)

That said, I would only wear the F21 to a party or other event appropriate for such a dress. A junior might think of it as streetwear (although I wouldn't have then either). I think context is important.

One of the items you mentioned, bombers, I don't see as linked to age at all but to body type. The reason I don't wear them is that they don't suit me with their high necks and bustal incompatibility.

Style Fan

Veteran

I wear what I feel good in and what I think is flattering. If it is in style but doesn't work for me then I don't wear it. My age has nothing to do with my decision. I have better taste now than when I was younger. I suspect a lot of women do. I would wear a moto jacket and boots. I continue to wear body con tops because it is the best look for me. I wear looser jeans and pants. I always did.

As I have gotten older I dress more for myself and forget about others.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I always appreciate the topic of age appropriate dressing.

I am 56. Here are my lists.

What feels too young for me

Short and tight skirts and dresses -- above mid-thigh

Frills

Skater skirts

Beanies worn indoors

Over the knee socks

OTK boots with skinnies

Cropped tops with flesh showing

Bare backs

Bare shoulders

Deep armholes with intentional side boob showing

Neon jeans

Bodycon knit dresses

Graphic tees with cute or ironic phrases on them

Cute animal graphic tees

What is considered "young" but feels right for me

Bomber jackets

Moto jackets

Boyfriend jeans

Skinny jeans -- loose or tight

Cropped skinny jeans

Mom jeans

Sheer long skirts

Deep v necks

Shorter shorts -- but they are all somewhat loose -- in the right context

Rock n roll graphic tees

Abstract animal graphic tees
Cropped tops (without flesh showing)

This is what I can come up with now. There is a lot of fashionable clothing we older ladies can wear. I do think some things I might still wear (body con knit dresses) if I had the abs for them. My legs have held up better than my mid-section. Some of the new frumpy chic, it's hip to be square, juxtapositional (word?) kind of styles are definitely harder to pull off as you get older. However I do wear some of them, but others -- dresses and sneakers for example -- I am passing on because they do not come off as intentional on me. Whereas other looks, like crop tops with high rise bottoms, I think I can pull off intentionally.

san

Veteran

I just turned 60 so this topic is fun to read and learn from. I'm a stickler on skirts hitting somewhere between mid to low knee. My knees have not held up well, same goes for not wearing tops in public that are not 3/4 sleeve or longer length.

I like jeans of all shapes, well most shapes. I like skinnies, BF, straight leg, flares, and bell bottoms. I feel very nostalgic in the bell bottoms. I need to get a pair of flares.

I have never been a girly girl so probably wouldn't be the one walking down the street with a big swishy toile skirt. I have bought girly tops and just couldn't wear them. I actually like Ellen DeGeneres' outfits most of the time.

I had to quit wearing short shorts a long time ago, but now I really do like longer shorts or even below the knee clam diggers better.

I guess as I've gotten older I like a more covered up and not frilly look. I never wore high heels and I'm fine with a 2" or lower heel.

I feel I might be getting off topic. I guess what I'm really wanting to say is that as I aged my tastes changed with it. Learning from Angie has helped catapult me in that direction.

Nebraskim

Veteran

59. Like Suz, I avoid some things because they are not my personal style, not due to my age. I dislike on me, and thus either never or rarely wear sleeveless tops, V-neck tops, short shorts or skirts, skinny jeans, high heels. My vibe is preppy, collegiate, sporty, tailored, classic. I love a denim pencil skirt. My fear is frump or matronly. I would rather dress too young than too old. I also think it's the " too much" that can be aging: too much makeup. Too much jewelry. Too much hair style.

The paradox of looking effortlessly put together is the amount of work it takes to appear effortless.